Radar isn't fighter's primary combat sensor any more, so PLAAF isn't at big loss there. I'd more worry about IRST, I doubt Russians sold them newest IRST types (OLS-35), and for now at least, Europe has a lead in that area.

Range alone is not enough to decide about a missile. MICA-RF & IR, both can be fired in passive mod and also guided to the target while to fire R-27, the attacker will be forced to show himself up by operating his radar. And that is big handicap in modern day aircombat. one must remain silent, hidden and undetected as far as possible to get the advantage. MICA scores on that front against any missile in the world on all these parameters combined together. Once we talk of an RCS below 0.1m, we are looking at detection ranges by best of radars of not more than 80kms. Which means, before an air intercept radar detects Rafale, a MICA might already be on its way towards him guided by OSF.

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But metoer BVRAAM would be more deadly than MICA EM in that same situation thanks to more kinetic energy & would have been larger no escape zone

Radar isn't fighter's primary combat sensor any more, so PLAAF isn't at big loss there. I'd more worry about IRST, I doubt Russians sold them newest IRST types (OLS-35), and for now at least, Europe has a lead in that area.

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Yes french sofradir indeed is a pioneer ,Russian can sell anything for money

In early 21st century when IAF was inducting PESA-radar equipped jets, PLAAF was inducting slotted-array radar-equipped
fighters, by 2015 (when Su35 could possibly be inducted, if deal is signed right away), PLAAF will be inducting PESA-radar
equipped jets while IAF gets AESA-equipped ones (Super-MKI + Rafale).

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well
the secret thing Spectra NG is going to have more range than RBE 2 aesa radar itself

NEZ is more about an enemy fleeing than an enemy intruding. If we have front sector combat, we can do launch at max range and the time to interception will be very low, in a tail chase attack, you need a longburn missile and the time to intercept will be high. Also due to this high time to intercept, the enemy can easily take the risk to accelarate beyond 1.5M using A/B to escape. In BVR combat, you can extend the front sector around you to about 270* by turning towards the target and that is whr the ITR plays a major part. The NEZ is an egg shaped zone in which you can turn to point your nose to a point whr you can have max range for weapon release but, thr is very little that can be done when it comes to shooting an enemy fleeing from fight.
Front aspect NEZ is nearly a constant value in BVR but tail chase NEZ can vary by big margins depending upon the launch speed of platform and the escape speed of target. It also will change based on altitude at which it is fired.

But metoer BVRAAM would be more deadly than MICA EM in that same situation thanks to more kinetic energy & would have been larger no escape zone

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Meteor is supposed to have NEZ bigger than that of even AMRAAM-120D. But it is unfit for internal carriage due to very large fins. Hope they do something to make it fit for internal bay carriage by giving it folding fins

To be frank the Article is not total BS but it very therotical.,
Both planes Rafale or Su-35 have not been in action against planes that are comparable,
Rafale had been in action in Libya and Mali (both without credible air defence)

So all the info about effectiveness of SPECTRA and other things, are there but NOT PROVEN IN COMBAT.

Now for some theoritical points, Rafale technology is older than Su-35 tech but as I said we cannot compare as they are theoritical.
We are aware that IBRIS E radar has longer range but how effective it is, we do not know.

Thanks for the article again, but frankly.. its just for propping up Rafale and Su-35 bashing.

As per Russian marketing about Su-35 it is superior to Su-30 MKK (used by China) with new engine etc. and very much comparable to Su-30 MKI. But then if what they say is true and it has been know that Su-30 MKI can take down Rafale hands down, so by that comparison Su-35 can take down Rafale too, why that exception?
That Su-30 MKI is better than Rafale but Su-35 which the Su company says is excellent in performance as as good as Su-30 MKI be inferior to Rafale..

Also its nothing new, The West did underestimate the Russian missiles calling them thrash, but when Germany got the arms and equipment when they unified, their testing showed that AA-11 Archer is quite superior

and quoting wiki
" This proved to be a far more dangerous short-range attack weapon than had been known previously. It was clearly able to outperform all operational Western short-range IR tracking missiles - particularly in the ability to guide in high off-axis attacks, but also in terms of field of view, acquisition range, maneuverability, ease of target designation, and target lock-on.[citation needed] Concluding that they needed a missile with better performance than the Archer, "

Russians always had better knowledge of aerodynamics and rockets w.r.t western powers. But their seeker knowledge is not as good. MICA has everything in it better and superior to R-73 & R-77. Meteor will outperform any missile of its class any whr in the world.

Regarding Rafale & SU-35, one of the biggest aspects missed out by all members is the performance under Jamming. SU-35, due to its large RCS and size will have a longer Burn Thru Range when compared with Rafale as it show up inspite of using max jamming power. And that makes all the difference in combat in a Jamming envoirnment.

Regarding Rafale & SU-35, one of the biggest aspects missed out by all members is the performance under Jamming. SU-35, due to its large RCS and size will have a longer Burn Thru Range when compared with Rafale as it show up inspite of using max jamming power. And that makes all the difference in combat in a Jamming envoirnment.

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RCS matters with jamming too, but jamming is also active emission, so... no radars and no jamming is most likely scenario for future air combat.

smestarz said:

But then if what they say is true and it has been know that Su-30 MKI can take down Rafale hands down, so by that comparison Su-35 can take down Rafale too, why that exception?

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I doubt that actually, Su-30/35 don't have many advantages over Rafale except maybe as bomb trucks. Stronger radar, yes, but Rafale has better IRST.

RCS matters with jamming too, but jamming is also active emission, so... no radars and no jamming is most likely scenario for future air combat.

My post was w.r.t jamming by stand off jammers. Any aircraft resorting to Jamming can be shot using Home-on-Jam missiles. Meteor and AMRAAM-120D have that capability, I am sure that even MICA-RF can be esily modified for this but Russia till date do not have Home-on-Jam missile.